Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Transit Yearbook (Troy, NY)

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Athletic Field D0rmiI0l'y Campus

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J TRANSIT, VOL. XLIII I9 Since the plans for the building have been drawn up, the Institute has purchased the property adjoining the athletic field, which extends east to Fifteenth street and north to Avenue B, including part of what is now known as College pond. Today the Institute occupies a commanding position. It is situated o-n a hill overlooking the city of Troy. Three of the buildings, namely, Carnegie I-Iall, the Walker Laboratory and the Proudfit Laboratory, are placed on the brow of this hill, and extensive views up and down the Hudson river can be had from them. They can be seen from the center of the city, and as one walks up Broadway, his glance cannot help taking in the new Broadway approach, which is a granite stairway joining the Institute alley with Eighth street, the winding road and walks leading up to the buildings, and finally these th-ree buildings themselves. F rom Eighth street, which street the city has just paved with asphalt macadam, one sees more prominently the stone steps leading up to the buildings. They are in two sets. One following the winding road, which starts near the south property line, and the other coming straighter up the hill, but starting nearer to the north property line. The steps on the south path number three in a set and resemble a series of terraces, until this path joins the other approach at a single set of stone steps going up a long terrace. This terrace extends over almost the entire width of the property, the upper part -terminating at the foot of the buildings. I'Ieav'y bronze railings on both sides of these approaches add greatly to their beauty. Climbing another terrace inthe rear of the Carnegie I-Iall, one finds himself on a plateau of lawns and gardens, in Which is set the Warren house or dormitory, as it is now called. On the east side of this plateau is another terrace leading down about twenty feet to the '86 field. Upon this terrace and overlooking the athletic field now stands the Students' club house. ' The property just acquired by the Institute will be graded. The excavations for the Russell Sage laboratory, the location of which is more definitely seen by referring to the accompanying map, will be used to fill up the swamp north of the '86 athletic fleld. The Institute will also move a large amoun-t of earth from the elevation east of the boiler house in an easterly direction so that all of the land belonging to the Institute south of Avenue B will be raised in grade to a height nearly equal to that of the athletic field. Avenue B is a prolongation of Federal street from Ninth street easterly up thru the ravine and old College pond to Fifteenth street. ' As yet this street has not been cut thru, but the city is plan- ning to do so in the next few years. After this street is opened, the Institute property will be situated south of it, but the school will still own about five and one-half acres north of it, behind the property of the Troy Hospital.

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VJ TRANSIT, VOL. XLIII 21 The Institute has reached the highest mark since its beginning, as far as accommodation of the student body is con- cerned. Its high mark, as far as its reputation as the the best engineering school of the country, will never deteriorate, for its standards of work and study are surpassed by no other institution. But, with its commanding position, its new build- ings and laboratories, its beautiful and extensive campus, and its addition of the departments of electrical and mechanical engineering, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will be a greater attraction to the hundreds of students who knock at its doors each year for admission. ' nl .,